Syracuse, N.Y. – Syracuse lawmakers voted Monday to shut down a business that city officials allege has been selling unroadworthy automobiles without authority from the state or city.
Following a public hearing on Wednesday, the council unanimously approved rescinding the special use permit for Nembhard’s Auto Sales at 634 S. Geddes St.
The city’s code enforcement department requested the council take the action following an investigation. Syracuse has also filed a lawsuit against owner Ian Nembhard over a series of alleged code violations. That included a recent project at the property in which a car wash bay was enclosed and set up to operate as an unauthorized store.
In a report prepared for councilors, the city said the state Department of Motor Vehicles investigators determined that Nembhard illegally sold 124 vehicles between September 2024 and February 2025. Some were not safe to operate on the road, the report said. The state DMV suspended the Nembhard’s certificate to sell vehicles in 2018 and revoked it in 2021.
Even if Nembhard was certified by the state, the special use permit for the property does not allow for automobile sales. It’s authorized to run as a car wash and light vehicle repair shop.
At the council’s public hearing last week, Nembhard said he has not operated as a dealership but has serviced cars for a licensed dealer based in Georgia. He also said he has bought and sold some vehicles himself at the property via Facebook Marketplace, which he contends is not illegal.
Two people who work for Nembhard and three friends also spoke during the hearing in favor of allowing the business to remain open.
